Mick Taylor - Mick Taylor (1979) {1992, Reissue}

Mick Taylor is the debut studio album by the former Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor, released in 1979. Though the album was acclaimed by critics, the album's blues-based style was somewhat unfashionable at the time of release, when punk and new wave were becoming more popular. Taylor had tried to get his former band The Rolling Stones to record "Leather Jacket" on Multiple occasions. The Rolling Stones version can be found on many bootleg records.

Mick Taylor's self-titled debut album is rather different than one would imagine for an ex-Rolling Stone and former Bluesbreaker. As to whether this is due to the conformist sound of the lighter numbers ("Leather Jacket," "Baby I Want You," etc.) or the fact that his singing voice is so much more average than Jagger or Mayall's is debatable. In any case, Mick Taylor is an undeniably attractive and often surprising album. The highlight and thrust of the album is Taylor's astounding guitar playing. His fusion of blues and rock styles, and, of course, his slide guitar work, is constantly impressive. "Slow Blues," "Giddy-Up," and "Spanish/A Minor" feature some particularly gob-smacking guitar solos. Lyrically, Mick Taylor is a little lightweight, but at worst competent. Similarly, some of the music is at times cheesy, attempting to blend in with the sound of the time. Nevertheless, Mick Taylor's first attempt at a solo recording is a fine effort and one that improves with time.